During the recently concluded gubernatorial exercise in Edo State, the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, went about electioneering in what can only be described as the most execrable manner imaginable. It was palpably evident that they had little, if any, regard for Godwin Obaseki, the newly inaugurated Governor of Edo State. I had, at the time, found this conceitedness to be obviously typical and rather annoying indeed. I had wondered why PDP leaders  were disrespecting a man who undisputedly stood head and shoulders above them intellectually.

For me – and thankfully for countless voters in Edo, Obaseki has proved to be quietly impressive in the ways in which it matters most. Without an iota of a doubt and simply to state an incontrovertible fact, the gentleman is highly cerebral, painstakingly meticulous, dutifully methodical and pragmatically focused.

Most unfortunately, some people had behaved as if the Governorship of Edo State was their birthright. Others had denigrated Obaseki as a political neophyte and thus a nonstarter .

I wonder how it would have felt if the PDP had captured Edo. They were all over the place, with an armada of Governors  and spin doctors creating the absolutely ridiculous impression that Edo was theirs for the taking. In the process, their candidate had deployed his parishioners and supporters throughout the state, preaching the gospel of politics instead of the word of God. The PDP was cast iron positive it could simply paint the APC in the colours of the party of hunger and thereby con the electorate of Edo into voting it out but Edo people didn’t forget their release from a preceding ten years of PDP bondage hallmarked by maladministrationand corruption.The Edo electorate simply told the PDP that it is normal to return to the Egypt of PDP bondage!

Thankfully, Adams Oshiomole had paid his dues in the most remarkable ways. Instructively, Obaseki had been with him all through his missionary journey in returning good governance to Edo. Most impressively, the good people of Edo State had remembered this and voted accordingly. For me, it is the Lord’s doing, and it is truly marvelous in my humble sight..

As Godwin Obaseki democratically takes up the baton in the endless relay race of governance, my prayer for Edo State is for the optimization of a beneficial interface between government and the governed for the greatest good of the good and great people of Edo.  To His Excellency, all I can say is: “Go Obaseki!”

Onokpasa, a lawyer, writes in from Warri.